Photo-Me International

PMA LAS VEGAS 2004 FOR THE 2ND YEAR IN A ROW KIS HAS WON THE DIMA SHOOT-OUT CONTEST,
DIGITAL PRINTER CATEGORY, WITH THE DKS 1550

KIS confirms appropriate technological choices made for the DKS 1500 (winner of the DIMA Shoot-Out contest last year, at the PMA exhibition in Las Vegas) by presenting its new range of minilabs (DKS 1510, 1530, 1550). For the second year in a row, the range was awarded the first prize for its “photo quality & colour rendering” with the DKS 1550 minilab. This is the first time the same vendor is awarded the 1st prize two years in a row.

The vote was held on February 12th, 2004. The jury comprised photographers, professionals in the field of photographic printing, and journalists. To guarantee an objective vote, the origin of the copies was not disclosed.

The DKS 1550, winner in the digital printer category (copy format 23 to 43 cm wide) facing 10 competitors, among which Fuji Frontier 370, Noritsu QSS 3213 and Agfa DLab2+.

The MSB™ (Microlens Sharpened Beam) exposure system patented by KIS, integrated to the DKS 1550, delivers perfect photographic quality, with a 340 dpi resolution in the 20x30 cm format. The MSB™ projects the scanned image, charged in an LCD onto the photographic paper, while multiplying the matrix resolution by 9. The LCD, animated by a piezo-electric system, manages with high precision the shape of the pixels and their relative position.
The KIS digital processing software, built into the DKS 1550, offers an extremely advanced algorithm for processing digital images. It is simple to use and user-friendly. It offers a palette of value added functions and services, without omitting very easy management of orders, and an archiving capacity up to 50,000 images.
The DKS 1550 accepts all digital input formats, as well as traditional formats (135, APS, 120, 220, positives and mounted slides) thanks to the Im-1500 high resolution scanner, which also detects and corrects dust and scratches automatically.
The DKS 1550, with a productivity of 1500 prints per hour in 3.5x5” and 4x6” offers the best value for money on the market. The DKS 1550 is also marketed by Kodak under the name System 89 DLS within the framework of a worldwide partnership.

The entire range of new generation 2004 KIS minilabs (DKS 1510, 1530, 1550) includes innovations rewarded in the DKS 1500 in 2003 and DKS 1550 in 2004.
This prize awarded to KIS for the 2nd time covers the entire range of KIS minilabs.

KIS PHOTO-ME GROUP, FACTS & FIGURES:

KIS designs, produces, and distributes professional photographic equipment, identity photo (and fun photo) booths, as well as self-service digital kiosks to print digital photos. It is headquartered in Grenoble, where it has just celebrated its fortieth anniversary. It achieved a revenue of 80 million Euro in 2003. It is part of the Photo-Me International Inc. Group, the World leader in automated photographic equipment, since 1994.

· 1946: creation of the first photo booth by Photo-Me.
· 1963: creation of KIS. One-minute key concept.
· 1970: development of one-minute services.
· 1981: revolution with the first photo minilab. Creator of the first minilab – One-hour photo concept.
· 1994: entry in the Photo-Me group, and launch of the first flashless digital photo booth. KIS and Photo-Me develop Photovision.
· 2000: launch of the first 100% digital minilab, and the digital kiosk with silver-halide processor, without competition even today. Signature of the first world-wide contract with Kodak.
· 2002: ISO 9001 Certification version 2000.
· 2003: Launch of the minilab integrating an innovating exposure system. KIS is awarded the photo quality award at the DIMA world exhibition in Las Vegas, with the DKS 1500.

Inventor, innovator, precursor, KIS is the centre for research, development, and production of the Photo-Me International Inc. group. Quoted at the London stock market since 1962, Photo-Me International has been growing constantly (revenue of 360 million Euro in 2003).